Home helps in Glasgow set to strike

Home helps in Glasgow have voted overwhelmingly in favour of
industrial action raising the threat of chaos in essential services
over the Christmas period.

The ballot of home helps was held two weeks ago after
negotiations between the main trade union, GMB, and Glasgow council
failed. The dispute centres on the union’s claim that the
council unilaterally ended overtime payments and refused to
reinstate them.

Almost 85 per cent of the 2,500 home helps voted in favour of
strike action.

Robert McGregor, regional organiser for GMB, said: “Home helps
have never previously taken industrial action and the last thing
they want to do is harm their clients, but Glasgow council has
acted appallingly and left them with no alternative.” McGregor
warned that the dispute is likely to lead to a significant increase
in delayed discharge of older people during the winter.

Glasgow council has previously stated that it has drawn up
contingency plans in the event of an all out strike. Negotiations
between the union and the council are continuing.